The Knocking Shop

For those of a certain age, the thought of late-night 90s music show The Word sparks a veritable bonfire of nostalgia, and it’s understandable. Since that programme’s demise, music TV has erred less on the side of anarchy and irreverence, and more towards gloss and banality. It’s with some judicious providence that this situation is finally being addressed in the form of The Knocking Shop – a show that is still currently web-based. It’s the brainchild of self-confessed Word fan-boys Ollie Evans and Danny Sangra, who have made the show with a little help from a crew of family and friends. “The aim was to take the energy of The Word and do something that felt like a Reeves and Mortimer parody of Later,” explain the duo, and although it’s clearly shot in the same spirit as The Word, the show’s cut-and-paste visual terrorism lends its own identity.

The band’s performances are all shot against green screen using three cameras (TEETH!!!, Fair Ohs and Good Shoes have all been on the show) creating a palimpsest of intersecting footage that bleeds into one another in a kaleidoscopic manner: the visual effect is disorientating, to say the least. But it’s not just in the music where things are presented differently. Filmed above the well-known old man boozer The Stag’s Head, each episode is anchored by the pub’s more intriguing characters, including barman and part-time transvestite Cilla Zack and deadpan Girlie Show throwback, Sarah Barrow, both of whom interview the bands. “The characters fell into place by themselves,” explains Evans. “I like the idea that it’s slightly lawless and always on the run.” The star of the show, however, has to be the cardboard and Bacofoil robot, Graham Gadget. Harbouring a barely concealed existential crisis, Graham offers thoughtful reflections on the future that spill over into Karl Pilkington levels of stupid-acting-smart/smart-acting-stupid perception. T4 this isn’t.

Dazed Digital: You're from the future, but live in present day Dalston – what’s the deal?


Graham Gadget: The future’s not all that. First of all, space is no longer 'space'. It's a massive council estate sponsored by Durex. Also, mini-discs come back in the future.


DD: How do people respond to being interviewed by a robot?

Graham Gadget: I think they're cool with it. I'm a better version of Parkinson. I have a nuclear-powered heart, detachable hands and I can time travel. Parkinson has none of those things.


DD: I see from the show you quite like to drink and a gamble. Do you have any other vices?


Graham Gadget: Dog-fights. Nobody ever talks about how much I love dog-fights. 



DD: What are music TV shows like in the future?
Graham Gadget: There are no music shows in the future. The music channels only air old episodes of The Kardashians and My Super Sweet 16. I love 16-year-olds, but I want to hear some tunes too. I'm bringing the life back to music shows before it's too late. 


DD: You seem to be going through a slight existential crisis, what's up?
Graham Gadget: I'm trying to figure out if I should start wiping out the human race now or wait until after I've managed to have sex with one. Maybe I'll wait. You guys are okay.
 
To see another The Knocking Shop film, click HERE and flick through the September issue of Dazed & Confused for more TKS coverage

Text by Stephen Pietrzykowski